Cool for the summer.

Don't say goodbye

I climb into the bus and sit in the very back. I see an excitable boy, around my age, in way too nice clothing, climb on.

"Hi, I'm Steve." He says to a pair of kids. They look up at him. "Hi." They reply before turning away from him. He pauses a second, his smile dropping a second before he turns to another kid.

"Hi, I'm Steve." He says, trying to sit down. "Uh, Hi?" They say staring at him. He stands up straight and moves to find somewhere else.

"Hi, I'm Steve." "Okay?" The boy sighs. "Hi, I'm Steve." "Whatever." Each time the boy, Steve, gets less enthusiastic.

The young boy sits down in a huff next to me at the back of the bus. "Ooh, looks like you came on too strong there Stevie-boy." I say teasing. "Huh? Oh. Well, people normally like me. I just wanted some friends here." He says looking up at me and pouts.

"Well if it makes you feel better. I probably won't make any friends either." I say leaning back and shoving my hands in my jacket pockets. "I'm Eddie by the way. I'd shake your hand but-" I wiggle my fingers in the pockets. "And I don't do handshakes." He laughs. "Hi-ya Eddie." He smiles and relaxes in his seat.

"So Eddie where are you from? Are you from Hawkins? I don't think I've seen you before." Steve asks. "Oh, um. I just moved to Hawkins." I say shyly. "Oh cool. I've lived in Hawkins my whole life. It's a small town, not much to do but- Oh, hey what school are you going to go to?" He asks kind of cutting himself off.

I look at him before answering. "Uh, Hawkins middle school. Is there another one?" "Oh me too. Uh, I guess you could have gone to Hawkins South, but that's technically not even in Hawkins." I nod and turn to look out of the window.

I guess Steve notices I don't want to talk as he looks up at the roof tapping his fingers on his legs. After a while, he seems to have happily zoned out.

I watch as the trees become thicker and more densely populated. We slow down before turning down a long thin dirt road. We drive till we pop out the other end. Trees were replaced by log cabins, tiny humans running around and a small lake off to the side.

"Yes, a lake! I can practice swimming." The boy beside me yells before blushing and sinking into his seat. I turn to look at him. "I'm training to get on the swim team." He explains, and the bus parks.

I follow the kids off the bus and into a check-in line. "Name?" A chipper young lady asks. "Uh, Eddie, I mean Edward Munson." I say.

"It's ok Eddie, we love nicknames here. You'll be in... ah the Panthers." She says dragging out the last sentence and looking for my name. She points to a young man handing out dark purple t-shirts. I nod and walk over.

"Here you go. What's your name?" The man asks handing me the shirt. "Eddie." I say looking at the shirt. It's dark purple with a white paw print. "Ah, Munson right?" I nod. "Don't worry, you only have to wear it during team challenges. Unless you want to."

I nod feeling a hand on my shoulder. I turn and see Steve. He looks at the counsellor. "Hi, I'm Steve." The man shakes his hand and gives him a shirt. "Hi Steve, I'm Matthew, the Panthers' team counsellor." Steve nods.

He turns to me pulling me out of the way, as more 'team members' arrive. He slips on his shirt before talking. "Dude, how awesome is it that we're on the same team?" He asks. "We don't have to wear the shirts." I reply.

"I know, but it's cool. Team spirit and all." He says looking down at it. I sigh. "Well, at least I can have you to keep me company. You know, before you leave me for better friends." I say jokingly.

He looks at me seriously. "Nuh-uh. We are day one friends. I'm not gonna leave you." He says crossing his arms. "Oh, ok." I say surprised.

We walk to our cabin and claim a bunk together, Steve taking the top, because and I quote. "I've always wanted a bunk bed. To sleep up in the clouds." I smile and point him up.